Filmmaker Ken Burns to lead Rose Parade

PASADENA, Calif. – Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, known for long-form explorations of all-American subjects such as the Civil War and baseball, was named Tuesday as grand marshal of the 2016 Rose Parade.

The announcement was made as the Tournament of Roses prepares for the 126th edition of the annual floral spectacle on New Year’s Day. The theme of the Pasadena parade is “Find Your Adventure.”

“I’ve never been to the parade in person, so this will be a new adventure for me,” Burns said in a statement.

Tournament president Mike Matthiessen called Burns a legendary figure “who has devoted his life to telling the story of America.”

Burns, 62, has received 14 Emmy Awards for his work on PBS documentaries such as “The Dust Bowl,” ”Prohibition” and “Mark Twain.” His latest, “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History,” aired for 14 hours.

PBS broadcast a newly restored version of Burns’ “The Civil War” in the fall, 25 years after its debut.

The series proved a blockbuster when it debuted in 1990, drawing an audience of nearly 39 million viewers.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.